Wales v Ireland match day – crowds on the way to Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.
March 11, 2011
Tag Archives: Cardiff
Match day in Cardiff
Posted in Artwork, Cardiff, Photography, Wales
Tagged 6 Nations, Cardiff, Ireland, millennium square, rugby, Wales
Patch work – photos from Llanrumney
Photos taken during my time patch reporting from Llanrumney, East Cardiff, for The Cardiffian.
Posted in Artwork, Cardiff, Photography, Wales
Tagged Cardiff, cardiff School of Journalism, cardiff university, Cardiffian, East Cardiff, gulleys, Llanrumney, Llanrumney Hall, rugby, Rumney, Rumney RFC
Winter photos in Cardiff and Clevedon
Some photos of Cardiff and special people in Clevedon from over the Christmas period.
They are a little bit bleached out…but it was a free film so I shouldn’t complain!
Posted in Artwork, Photography
Tagged Cardiff, Cardiff castle, Cranes, Olympus, OM-2, Photography, St Mary Street
Covering local science issues – a look back at my blogging so far
A little self-assessment of my blogging attempts over the last few months
Lessons learned in Cathays Park – Photo: MRC
Purpose
I have always been interested in science – and felt kind of guilty about eventually dropping science studies at the end of A levels. The world of science journalism and reporting is, of course, very contentious and I wanted to dip my toe into the field and build up some experience with a view to possibly developing it as a specialism further down the journalistic path.
We don’t need to look very far before we see the obvious arts-bias in the media – and a certain blogger/columnist (who I hardly need to introduce) regularly points out the often ludicrous and occaisonally alarming failures of the mainstream press to accurately and responsibly report science issues.
As a complete novice myself (having unfortunately forgotten a good deal of what I learned in A level Biology and Physics) it was a way of engaging with the subjects themselves as much as the debates surrounding science in the media.
Photos: MRC
Strategy
When I was formulating a strategy for my Gwyddor Science blog, the only real aim I had was to talk about science issues in Wales. And having such an open ended remit, I have discovered, is not necessarily a helpful starting point.
The first problem I had was what tone to take for the blog.
Having been following the Lay Scientist and Ed Yong I knew there was considerable criticism of the way the BBC and other news organisations’ approach to science coverage. They argue against science research being depicted as a series of Eureka! moments with overzealous use of the responsibility-dodging “scare quote” and recommend that, in order to avoid misleading the public, a science writer should be partial and happy to suggest a correct way to interpret the evidence.
In other words, everything we are being trained to avoid as part of general reporting!
And as a non-expert, I don’t really feel comfortable bashing out an opinion on an issue as a) I am probably wrong and b) my views would be strongly dictated by higher authorities.
So far, I have sidestepped this problem by covering science events and news affecting science research rather than attempting to dissect research papers (hopefully this will come in time). Without really planning to, the Gwyddor Science partly took on the form of a hyperlocal science blog – the Wales focus quickly narrowed to Cardiff, and I started covering events and issues around the city that related to the theme.
In addition, I decided to incorporate environmental issues into the theme of the blog. Part of the reason for this was that the online environmental community seems particularly visible and active in Cardiff, though individual areas such as astrophysics also have strong sources connections.
This was certainly a success – Steve and Grace of environmental network group CF Hub kindly asked me if I would be interested in collaborating on posts for their new website after I covered the first Hub in the Pub session.
Photo: MRC
Tools
The main purpose behind Gwyddor Science and this blog is getting to know the mechanics and logistics of producing content with an audience in mind.
Though I have experimented with video editing before, using the camera to cover specific events and quickly uploading and embedding were new challenges. Using Twitter and Facebook to publicise posts is an obvious but very useful way of getting the word out there and hopefully bringing in some newcomers through serendipity. Communicating with likeminded people on these platforms is also essential – this is where I have come across contacts and leads for much of what I have been writing about. I would certainly like to be a lot more competent across the board with digital communication, but I am starting to think more about what kind of forms of content would suit the circumstances.
Ironically the post that has had most views of any on the two blogs is my undergraduate dissertation on medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight which now has over 700 views. I had not in any way written it with the web in mind, and pretty much uploaded it straight from the word document when I first got the blog up and running with only a little editing. I am amazed at the number of searches for “Sir Gawain” it comes up in, and to me it shows the advantage of having long articles with many repitions of the keyword. The next highest is the post Making Money from Online Journalism, which I think I can put down to some SEO in the title.
Photo: MRC
Conclusion
Ultimately, all of this experience is useful because it will prepare me for futher blogging attempts and teach me how to go about things. What I would most like to improve is the regularity I post, as when I have been quiet for even a little while, the view counts plummet (especially on Gwyddor Science which currently has much less content than this blog). To really push the visibility of Gwyddor Science it would be worth making dedicated Twitter/Facebook/Youtube etc accounts to properly utilise the sharing and promoting capabilities of social media.
Some pages worth seeing
Social media and Jimmy Mubenga
Funding for Science Research Councils
Cardiff Science Cafe – Paul Buckley
Posted in Journalism, Online Media
Tagged blog, Blog evaluation, Cardiff, environment, environmental issues, Gwyddor Science, niche, science, SEO, social media, Wales
Disappointment as Rumney Recreation Ground is denied village green status
Campaigners are “bitterly disappointed” at the rejection of their application to prevent development on Rumney Recreation Ground, and are considering appealing the decision.
Independent inspector Leslie Blohm QC who directed a public inquiry into the matter in September, announced that the site should not qualify for village green status on Monday.
His recommendation will allow Cardiff Council to proceed with their plan to build a new High School on the green, should they be granted planning permission.
Disappointed: RREEL Chairman Don Taylor points to the proposed school site on Rumney Recreation Ground
Don Taylor, head of Save Rumney Recreation Ground and Eastern Leisure Action Group (RREEL), who has campaigned against the development for more than three years, said:
“We feel bitterly disappointed that Mr Blohm has come down in favour of the council, and that our argument did not satisfy his opinion.
“But this is not the end. We have not fought for three years to be defeated by one decision – It is not over until they dig up the first sod of soil.
“We need to stop and assess the situation, inform our members and then plan what to do next.
“We may be taking a legal challenge on the village green decision.”
The Council are seeking to build a £22m Eastern Cardiff High School on the site which will merge the existing Llanrumney High School and Rumney High School.
The two schools, which cover the wards of Llanrumney, Rumney, Trowbridge and St Mellons in their catchment areas, currently have around 1400 surplus places between them.
Leader of Cardiff Council Rodney Berman said:
“I very much appreciate that this news will disappoint a lot of local residents and will not be what they wanted to hear, but we have analysed the situation very carefully and still believe this is the best option educationally for the children of the area.
“This outcome should now allow us to move forward with the establishment of a brand new, 21st Century secondary school.
“The creation of the new school will remove a large number of surplus places which are currently a significant drain on the funding the Council provides to Cardiff’s schools.”
Public Inquiry
A public inquiry into the village green application made by local residents with support from Cardiff South and Penarth MP Alun Michael was held in September over three days.
Mr Blohm, of St John’s Chambers, Bristol, heard evidence from the council and 145 witness statements by local residents to decide if the site should qualify for the status under the 2006 Commons Act.
To do so, the applicants had to prove the land had been used for sports and pastimes for 20 years ‘as of right’ rather than with permission from the council as landowners.
Mr Blohm ruled there was not enough evidence for this, and stated in his report:“the user was not sufficiently demonstrably ‘as of right’.”
RREEL Chairman Ron Taylor explains the history of the group and the next steps for the campaign
Audio file
Consultation
Although campaigners accept the legality of the development proposal under Mr Blohm’s recommendation, it is still felt that the site is the wrong location for the school.
A sore point among residents is the feeling that the council has ignored a petition with more than 3,000 signatures, more than 2,000 letters of objection in response to a public consultation in November and December, 2007, and a 93.6% “No” vote to the proposal in a community poll in February, 2009.
John Ireland, Conservative councillor for Rumney, said:
“It is absolutely appalling the present council committee ignored the referendum. Without a doubt, people in the area are against the school being built on the recreation ground.
“This administration do not listen to the people of Cardiff. I am really disappointed.”
In a written response to the RREEL’s claims that the community poll was a “dictation rather than consultation exercise”, Chris Jones, chief council officer for Schools and Lifelong Learning, said:
“The Council has not ignored the views of residents.
“The Council took the decision that the poll did not detract from the analysis that the Council’s proposal offers the best educational solution, or that other options for the siting of the school are not necessarily affordable within the funding available.”
Map showing area and locations affected by new High School project
Plaid Cymru support
The issue has divided members of Plaid Cymru who have traditionally had a strong following in the area, consistently coming second to Labour in Council elections.
Residents have expressed resentment toward Neil McEvoy, deputy leader of Cardiff Council and leader of the Plaid group, who they claim supported the campaign until Plaid formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrats.
While the Plaid leadership in the council have pledged to support the school proposals, other members of the party remain firmly against it.
Liz Musa, Plaid candidate for the Cardiff South and Penarth seat in the National Assembly elections next year, said:
“The proposals for the new school certainly haven’t done Plaid any good in the area, though I must point out that Plaid branch in Rumney and Llanrumney have always been unanimously against the proposal.
“Yes, Plaid Cymru are in the coalition with the Lib Dems. That doesn’t mean I have to like everything Lib Dems put forward.”
Colin Lewis, who has run as a Plaid candidate in the last three council elections for Llanrumney, said:
“I am devastated, and think the council are making a big mistake.
“As a branch we see things differently from the council leadership. We listen to the people in the area, and think they should get what they want.
“At the next election we will know what the impact has been on support for Plaid.”
Mr McEvoy was contacted but declined to comment.
Keith Phillip Jones has covered the campaign extensively on the Cardiff East blog, as well as on Guardian Cardiff with Hannah Waldram.
Ed Walker has also written about it on YourCardiff.
Posted in Articles, Cardiff, Journalism, Online Media, Writing
Tagged #RumneyRec, Alun Michael, Cardiff, Cardiff council, cardiff School of Journalism, cardiff university, Don Taylor, JOMEC, Journalist, Leslie Blohm, Llanrumney, mark riley cardwell, Neil McEvoy, News, Rodney Berman, RREEL action group, Rumney Recreation Ground, Vaughan Gething, Village green
Council planning department comes under fire at conservation debate
Nicola Hebden and I made this report for the Guardian’s Cardiff blog.
Cardiff council’s planning committee and Welsh heritage society Cadw received attacks at a debate held by building conservation societies last night.
Members of the Victorian Society and the Cardiff Civic Society met yesterday for the Why Conserve? debate to discuss preservation of Cardiff’s historic buildings.
The event, held at the Old Library in the city centre, was also the preview night for a photography exhibition marking 50 years of the Victorian Society.
The debate opened with the ongoing contentious issue of the enclosure of Bute Park.
Peter Cox, chair of the Cardiff Civic Society, said:
“There has been an incremental erosion of Bute Park – 40% has been enclosed or built on in less than 100 years, and it seems unstoppable. Recently they have put a road through it and built a monstrous bridge.
“Cardiff Castle and Bute Park are a complete thing, not a collection of bits of parkland with a piece of confection in the middle. The park is unique, and anything we do to it now will change it irreparably.”
Cox also criticised the compromise of curatorial standards at Cardiff Castle to attract visitors.
Audience members were also eager to voice opinions on Cardiff council’s planning department.
The plan to build a 16 storey building in the green patch of Callaghan Square was raised. The council received criticism for selling yet another area of green space, felt by audience members to be much valued by workers in the area.
Smaller scale planning committee decisions, such as allowing alterations to listed houses in the city, were also labelled as “lazy” and “badly thought through”. The alterations were described as a “death by a 1000 cuts” for the historical architecture of the buildings.
Professor Judi Loach, of the Cardiff University Welsh School of Architecture, added:
“It is the council officers rather than elected members who push developments through councils. There is a feeling that democracy is being run by executives, not elected officials.
“Councillors often do not understand larger issues or values of individual buildings or spaces like Cathays park or Bute Park, and when it comes to deciding on an issue like that they do not feel like they have the expertise.”
Elaine Davey, chair of the Victorian Society Wales, concluded:
“Let’s cherish what we’ve got. We need to find new uses for buildings as it’s much more sustainable. Just as people recognise the importance of biodiversity in the environment, we need people to recognise the importance of architecture.”
Cardiff council has been contacted for comment.
Unions march through Cardiff against government plans to cut public services
Article for the Guardian’s Cardiff live blog.
Around 300 protesters from across Wales marched through the city centre today in opposition to the cuts proposed by the government this week.
The march, which started at City Hall and ended with a rally at Sophia Gardens, was held by trade unions who believe that the proposed cuts to public services will cause widespread jobs losses in Wales.
People began to gather outside the war memorial by City Hall from 11pm, holding union flags, Socialist Party banners and umbrellas.
The march started at 1pm and the procession was led with a banner supporting the Newport passport office, which faces closure and the loss of 300 jobs following an announcement from the Home Office last week.
Protesters then marched down North Road to Queen Street, chanting: “No ifs, no buts, no public sector cuts.”
As the march passed the statue of NHS founder Aneurin Bevan, march leader Rob Williams, of the Unite group, paused the procession to pay respect to the former Labour Party member’s efforts for public services.
The march continued down Castle Street, which had been closed to traffic, and culminated at Sophia Gardens park, where a series of speeches were given by union members and politicians.
Speakers included Les Woodward, representing Remploy workers in Swansea, Owen Herbert, of the Rail, Maritime and Transport workers’ union, Marianne Owens, vice chair of Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) committee, Charlotte Wiltshire, PCS Wales young members’ committee, Edmund Schluessel, representing Cardiff University Student’s Union, and exiled Saudi Arabian trade unionist Yahya Al-Faifi.
Leanne Wood, assembly member for Plaid Cymru, drew cheers from marchers when she said: “These cuts are ideological. The Tories have been waiting for years to roll back on public services. Wales will not take these cuts lying down.”
But Neil McEvoy, deputy leader for Cardiff Council, struggled to be heard over heckles when he said: “The relationship between Cardiff Council and the unions is better than it ever has been. The fault of the economic crisis is with the Oxbridge boys.”
The rally ended with a message from event organiser Katrine Williams, vice president of PCS, who said: “Today’s demonstration was a great start to a movement that will grow and grow. We will continue to mobilise and work with trade unions to fight against the public sector cuts.”
The march was backed by the PCS, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), the Communication Workers Union (CWU), University and Colleges Union (UCU), the RMT, the National Shops Stewards Network (NSSN) and the National Association of Probation Officers (NAPO).
Ross Saunders, Cardiff organiser of the Socialist Party of Wales, said: “The event was fantastic, it is the start of a campaign against the cuts. We have laid down a marker to show that people from Cardiff and Wales will not take this lying down.”
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) will hold a national demonstration in Hyde Park, London on March 26, 2011, and the National Union of Students (NUS) and UCU will be hold a march in London on November 10, 2010.
Here is a map of the march route to show the scale of the event.
Anna Roxelana made a video report of the day’s events which can be found here.
Cardiff protest against the proposed cuts to public sector on the day of the coalition government’s spending review anouncement
Anna Roxelana and I made this report for the Guardian’s Cardiff live blog.
Protestors gathered in the city centre last night to oppose the cuts to public services announced in the Government’s comprehensive spending review earlier in the day.
Photo by Anna
Around 50 people gathered by the Aneurin Bevan statue on Queen Street at 5.30pm to vocalise their disapointment at the Government’s decisions, and listened to speeches by Jake Griffiths, leader of the Wales Green party and Marianne Owens, vice chair of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Wales Committee.
Owens said: “We need to spread the message that we won’t pay for a crisis that we haven’t caused.”
Organiser Seb Cooke, of the South Wales Right to Work group, said: “I do not feel that writing to politicians is enough – to make an impression we need protests on the scale that we have seen in France and Greece.
“The government are trying to blame and punish the public services for the economic problems facing the country. It is not right that the public services should suffer, because the banks caused the crisis.”
He also started off a chant: “They say cut back, we say fight back!…Tories, Tories, Tories, out, out, out!”
Edmund Schluessel, of the University and College Union and Socialist Party Wales, said tonight was the start of bigger protests: “Tonight is just a little thing to start things off.
We all know anger is there, I don’t know anyone who is happy with the cuts. We have the steam of public anger, now we need to build a piston box and convert steam into useful work.
“We object to everything in the public spending review -the cuts are not necessary when there are billions of pounds in evaded taxes. Investment builds the economy more than cuts do, the government is implementing changes without regard to evidence.”
Photo by Anna
This Saturday a larger protest is due take place outside the City Hall and expected to attract protesters from across Wales.
